Indra Group confirms its standing as a technological partner of the Mecca-Medina High-Speed Line: it’s set to maintain and operate its systems for at least another five years
It will be tasked with the rail traffic management, telecommunications, booking, ticketing, access control, safety and IT systems that facilitate the integrated, secure and efficient management of Saudi Arabia’s leading railway infrastructure
The extension of the Haramain project contract awarded to the Spanish consortium represents a €130 million increase in Indra Group’s order backlog over at least the next five years and reaffirms the trust of Saudi Arabia Railways
Indra will also implement onboard communications technologies for the new rolling stock that the consortium will supply to SAR (Saudi Arabia Railways)
With this project, Indra Group will bolster its position in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, where it has implemented other advanced smart mobility solutions, such as the integral ticketing of Riyadh’s public transport network
Indra Group will continue to support and operate the technological rail traffic management, signalling, telecommunications, booking, ticketing, access control, safety and IT systems with which it has equipped the Mecca-Medina high-speed line (Haramain High-Speed Railway) in Saudi Arabia, following the contract extension of the operation and maintenance contract awarded to the Consorcio Español Alta Velocidad Meca Medina (CEAVMM) by Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), the country’s national railway company.
The agreement, which represents an increase in Indra Group’s order backlog of more than €130 million, includes an extension of at least five years. The new contract signed by the Spanish consortium will incorporate 20 additional trains, which will also be fitted with Indra Group’s telecommunications systems.
The company’s integrated rail traffic management systems (TMS) on the line linking the two Saudi cities are essential for the safe and efficient operation of its 450-plus kilometres of track and the transport of the 900,000 passengers it currently handles each month, who also use Indra’s ticket sales and reservation technologies. With train traffic volumes reaching 1.8 million kilometres per month, Indra Group’s solutions enable high levels of operational performance and punctuality on the Mecca–Medina high-speed line.
“Indra Group’s sustained commitment to technological innovation and ongoing improvements has been key to ensuring a safe, efficient and high-quality rail service on the high-speed line linking Mecca and Medina. With the renewal of this contract, we reaffirm our commitment to the digital transformation of transport in a region which is witnessing significant growth in mobility, with a clear focus on innovative solutions”, declared Raúl Ripio, Senior Vice President of Mobility & Technology at Indra Group.
The company is responsible for the telecommunications systems that guarantee reliable real-time communications between the trains, stations and operational staff and the Jeddah Control Centre. This centre, designed and equipped by Indra Group, centralises the supervision and coordination of the operations across the entire infrastructure, anticipating operational situations, streamlining decision-making, providing a rapid response to any eventuality, helping to reduce travel times and optimising the overall efficiency of the service.
Indra Group has also renewed the operation and maintenance of its next-generation ticketing systems incorporating electronic payment and advanced access control systems. These are based on contactless technology to allow the automatic and manual issuance and sale of the tickets. These solutions can manage the 950,000-plus bookings made online, thanks to the platform developed by Indra Group.
Technological innovation, both today and tomorrow
The renewal of the contract for the Mecca-Medina high-speed line, one of the most advanced railway projects in recent years, will enhance Indra Group’s role in the technological transformation of mobility in Saudi Arabia. Within the country, the company performs the comprehensive management of Riyadh’s ticketing system, which caters for over 800 buses, BRT lines and sales and validation solutions by means of EMV, mobile devices and smart watches.
Indra Group will thus further the development and international expansion of its Strategic Plan while accelerating its operations in the Middle East. This strategy has also been reinforced by its partnerships with EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology groups, for the design and manufacture of state-of-the-art radars.
Indra Group’s ability to develop and manage complex projects is also reflected in the recent award of one of the largest contracts in its history for the management of the ticketing system of the entire London transport network.
In the rail sector, Indra Group has consolidated its position as one of the industry’s leading technological companies as a result of its commitment to innovation. Its cutting-edge end-to-end solutions stand at the forefront of the systems across the planet. They have been, or are being, implemented in countries such as Spain, Ireland, Estonia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Australia, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, India and the Netherlands.
With over 2,500 mobility projects deployed in 50 countries and more than 100 cities around the world, Indra Group has established itself as one of the main global technological partners for the development of smart solutions to deliver more efficient, connected, safe and sustainable mobility.